Cinderella comes to life on Edmonton stage

Rossini’s twist on the classic rags-to-riches story of Cinderella is brought to life at the Northern Jubilee Auditorium by the Edmonton Opera with La Cenerentola.

A few character changes from Charles Perrault’s original include:

• a buffoonish stepfather replaces the evil stepmother
• a wise philosopher replaces the fairy godmother
• matching bracelets reunite the lovers instead of a glass slipper

A change of the traditional era and execution gives this production a new aged flare, with the director, Robert Herriot setting the production in 1950s haute couture. He describes the productions being “fun, frothy and exciting” for audiences. Costume designer, Deanna Finnman found inspiration from a variety of high fashion houses to give the tale charm with vibrant colours and patterns to compliment Rossini’s bubbly romantic comedy.

Accompanied by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the all Canadian cast sings in Italian with projected English translation. The cast includes, mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabo, as Cinderella and Juno award-winning Edmonton tenor John Tessior, as the Prince.

The Edmonton Opera has launched a month long initiative with the show to help deserving women within the Edmonton area to dress for success. To carry on “the tagline of Cinderella ‘goodness triumphant'” says Tim Yakimec, General Director of the Edmonton Opera, they are accepting donations of new and previously-loved women’s office wear to benefit Suit Yourself at all performances of Cinderella or at Southgate Centre Guest Services.

The final show is being performed on Thursday, February 9 at 7:30 pm, tickets are available starting at $40 through the Edmonton Opera.

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